Unique Holiday Traditions: Welcoming the New Year Around the Globe
When December rolls around, families worldwide celebrate the season with fascinating traditions that often put children at the center, creating wonder, merriment, and memories to last for generations. Here's a global tour of some lesser-known customs that make the holiday season magical!
In Spain, children eagerly await not just Christmas Day, but also January 6th - Three Kings Day. The night before, kids fill their shoes with straw for the kings' camels and place them on windowsills or under the Christmas tree. By morning, the straw disappears, replaced with presents from the three wise men.
The Philippines holds the Sinulog Festival, where families dress their youngest members in vibrant costumes. Parents hoist their little ones onto their shoulders, believing this ritual brings good fortune for the year ahead. The children wave to passersby, spreading joy through the streets. Can you imagine being the littlest in the family and having all the attention on you for a whole festival?!
In Denmark, families practice a charming tradition called "pakkeleg" on New Year's Eve. Children and adults sit in a circle, rolling dice. When someone rolls a six, they get to choose a small wrapped gift from the center pile. The catch? They might have to give it up later if another player rolls a six! Kind of like a White Elephant gift exchange with a twist!
Japanese families celebrate Shōgatsu (New Year) by giving children "otoshidama" - small envelopes filled with money. The tradition teaches financial responsibility early, as many children save their otoshidama for something special. Parents also take their little ones to shrines, where they receive their first blessing of the year.
In Germany, the night before New Year's (Silvester), families with young children melt lead in spoons over candles and then drop the liquid into cold water. The resulting shapes supposedly predict the coming year—a heart might mean love, while a ship could indicate travel. Parents help their children interpret these mystical formations, creating moments of wonder and imagination. Divination is as old as time, and this twist on divining what comes from the new year is a special one indeed!
Ecuador's families craft life-sized dolls called "años viejos" (old years) together. Children help stuff old clothes with newspaper and add faces drawn on paper masks. At midnight on New Year's Eve, they burn these effigies, symbolically farewelling the old year's troubles. Each family member - even the smallest - jumps over the ashes twelve times, making wishes for each month ahead.
In Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations, children participate in "first-footing." The first person to cross a home's threshold after midnight brings gifts like shortbread, coal, or salt, setting the tone for the year. Many families encourage their children to be the "first foot," believing their innocent spirits bring extra luck!
Perhaps most unique is the Bulgarian "survakane" ritual. On New Year's Day, children gently tap family members on the back with decorated cornel branches called "survachkas." While tapping, they recite special verses, wishing health and prosperity. The branches, adorned with popcorn, dried fruits, and colorful threads, become treasured keepsakes the family holds onto all year long.
These traditions do more than mark calendar dates - they weave family bonds, create lasting memories, and pass cultural heritage to new generations. Whether jumping over ashes in Ecuador or waiting for the Three Kings in Spain, children worldwide experience the magic of the season through these special customs!
Do you and your family celebrate the holidays with a special tradition? Did you used to do something special when you were a child with your family? Maybe you’ve carried that tradition forward to your own kids? We’d love to hear about it! Comment your favorite holiday tradition below!
We hope you have a bright, shiny holiday season and an abundant and beautiful new year!
